My second daughter writes for the school paper like my eldest daughter. Just want to immortalize her work. This is her article!
“St. Therese teachers DO NOT know how to TEACH!”
That’s right! You heard me, St. Therese teachers DO NOT know how to teach!!! They absolutely suck at teaching!
Hey you didn’t let me finish. But I won’t take anything back! Wait, before you expel me, let me explain what I meant… they don’t know how to teach like most school teachers do, what they are, are teachers who” impart” that any student will be lucky to study along and learn with!
Well maybe some of you readers don’t know what the word “impart” means. Well there’s a HUGE difference in a teacher who “teaches” and a teacher who “imparts”, first lets explain teaching! Teaching is a job where you talk about lesson, make students do activities and tell them the rights and wrongs whenever in school. You may think that’s exactly what the teachers or properly say” imparters” of st. Therese do, right! Well I just gotta say that:
You’re dead wrong!
Let’s explain imparting shall we! Teacher WHO impart talk about the lessons AND make sure the student understand! Make students do activities AND have fun at the same time! Tell them the rights and wrongs whenever in school AND guide them for the future and outside the home’s and school’s sacred haven! You see what I mean? They actually enjoy what they are doing and treat their students like their own children. They have time for each and every one of us! They make sure that you’ll grow up to be the best you CAN be! So it’s like this, a teacher who teaches treats you as a student. A teacher who imparts treats you as their child!
If you’re reading this, you are most likely to be a theresian student! So value those said IMPARTERS! Because in this world of selfishness… a real teacher who imparts is hard to get by these days… so in conclusion there St. Therese teachers DO NOT know how to teach …..
“Because St. Therese teachers are so great, they only know how to impart …”
Friday, November 6, 2009
different type of dance
I’m doing my “finish payment dance”! Yey! Just today, my credit card bill came and I found out I singly finish paying one of my credit card debt. Me and my hubby got 5 cards, I am responsible to take care of 3 cards, since I am the one with a business. So my debt is P100,000 lighter now. Wooohooo! Feels really incredible. If everything goes really well, I’ll be able to pay everything before May, and then I could pay my siblings by June. That means by July, I’ll be able to hold on to my earnings and give my youngest daughter that dream birthday bash she had been asking for a year now. Darn it, it’s hard to type while dancing. Hahahaha!
The only let down is, my eldest daughter’s debut is coming up, I promised her two years ago I would give her a bash, now I don’t know how to keep that promise, it’s like a month away. Bummer! If only I could sell my fat tissues, I’ll be rich. Time to use my head, how to produce in a month time enough cash for her party.
But for now, I’ gonna finish my dance….woot…woot!
The only let down is, my eldest daughter’s debut is coming up, I promised her two years ago I would give her a bash, now I don’t know how to keep that promise, it’s like a month away. Bummer! If only I could sell my fat tissues, I’ll be rich. Time to use my head, how to produce in a month time enough cash for her party.
But for now, I’ gonna finish my dance….woot…woot!
Maslow forgot this.
They say love makes the world go round, but money comes close. In this day and age, it’s already a necessity. Gone are the customs where in you ask a neighbor for a free veggie or fruit from their backyard, or even the concept of a veggie/fruit garden, thanks to today’s environment, owning a garden is actually hard. Nowadays, you cannot pay for anything with chickens or patola. It’s always CASH or CARD.
So it is a necessity to teach our kids how to get money. I’ve tried to teach them the best I know how, so far they are responding well. Composing a check list with them was really fun. It turned out to be a compromise rather than a rule.
1. Learn to understand how to management money. Spending and earning is not the only thing to think about when it comes to money management.
2. Learn the pitfalls of credit cards, don’t get more than two.
3. Practice simple business when you're eight years old until you finish high school.
4. If you want something, work for it, don’t ask for a gift, unless you’re below eight years old or it’s your birthday or Christmas.
5. Study well, get good grades, not necessarily very high grades unless you really want to, and get a high paying job.
6. Set up your own business, when it fails, try again and again.
7. Once you succeed in business, build another successful one, and another, and another….
8. Invest in properties, lots of it, especially if you are planning a big family, that way your kids don’t have to rent out all their life.
9. Retire early then do more business.
10. Always have medical/health money set aside.
11. Stay together, no matter what happens in the future, you are to stay together and help one another, unless you want me in your face all the time, and I don’t care who started it, everyone is going to face the wall, TOGETHER. This rule doesn’t die with me, because like I’ve said, I’ll haunt you and you’ll never hear the end of it.
We also concluded the list is not finish yet, for one it was fun to make and I feel this list would evolve soon. Plus they can never deny we made this list coz I put this here, until internet is gone, this list is here to stay.
So it is a necessity to teach our kids how to get money. I’ve tried to teach them the best I know how, so far they are responding well. Composing a check list with them was really fun. It turned out to be a compromise rather than a rule.
1. Learn to understand how to management money. Spending and earning is not the only thing to think about when it comes to money management.
2. Learn the pitfalls of credit cards, don’t get more than two.
3. Practice simple business when you're eight years old until you finish high school.
4. If you want something, work for it, don’t ask for a gift, unless you’re below eight years old or it’s your birthday or Christmas.
5. Study well, get good grades, not necessarily very high grades unless you really want to, and get a high paying job.
6. Set up your own business, when it fails, try again and again.
7. Once you succeed in business, build another successful one, and another, and another….
8. Invest in properties, lots of it, especially if you are planning a big family, that way your kids don’t have to rent out all their life.
9. Retire early then do more business.
10. Always have medical/health money set aside.
11. Stay together, no matter what happens in the future, you are to stay together and help one another, unless you want me in your face all the time, and I don’t care who started it, everyone is going to face the wall, TOGETHER. This rule doesn’t die with me, because like I’ve said, I’ll haunt you and you’ll never hear the end of it.
We also concluded the list is not finish yet, for one it was fun to make and I feel this list would evolve soon. Plus they can never deny we made this list coz I put this here, until internet is gone, this list is here to stay.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
The second sister
The very first memory I have of her was when we were in Tanauan. I was visiting my parents then, was so young and had a fever. She was checking me out for mom was freaking out when she saw a little bit of blood in my vomit. She easily persuaded mom that everything was okay.
After that, all my memory of her was that she worked in the states, occasionally calling and occasionally visiting the Philippines. Our eldest, would tell me all about her, at that point, I always believed her. She was supposedly a sister of mine, who was working hard in the states. A sister who was devoted in helping all of her siblings, a sister, who my parents were using, a sister who had a little control of the family because she was earning more than anyone, a sister who was also helping us out so I was in no way supposed to piss her off. Back then, I get to talk to her on the phone or get a letter once in awhile, she sounded different to my big confusion, she always asked about how I was doing, and the only orders I got from her was to get my grades up. Our eldest had this thing, being soft spoken but deadly, saying one thing but acting the opposite, so I figured maybe the other one was the same. I always thought, that instead of telling me I had to follow her directives because she was capable of stuff, it would have gone better if people would had just asked me to respect her as a sister. But then again, we are talking about me here, I think I would still rebel that hard, only if I was told to respect her instead of fear her, I would had have someone to actually talk to about the problems I had. But that’s the past now, getting to know her was hard at first, I realized who she really was when my husband tried to point out what was real, and what was not. I had only been able to know her thru my husband’s eyes, which was a real “eye” opener so to speak.
I had concluded that this sister of mine is as complex as anyone I know, yes opinionated to a fault, a control freak when it comes to her siblings, as head strong as me when she thinks she is right, a total workaholic and a lot more, the only difference is that, no matter how she is, specially with us, its because a part of the reason why she does these things is because she cares for us, the other part, I honestly can say I’m still trying to figure out. It is just nice that the myths had been separated from what is real.
Don’t get me wrong, I firmly believe she is crazy sometimes, most of the time she is sane, being older gives her more power over her younger siblings I guess, but I would never EVER discount the fact that she truly loves us, no matter who we are, and what we are, that’s why she is crazily overprotective.
One thing though, I am still discovering who she is, I still get surprise when she does the complete opposite of what I was told, like the preconditioned idea of her , and what I am discovering about her, I honestly truly love.
After that, all my memory of her was that she worked in the states, occasionally calling and occasionally visiting the Philippines. Our eldest, would tell me all about her, at that point, I always believed her. She was supposedly a sister of mine, who was working hard in the states. A sister who was devoted in helping all of her siblings, a sister, who my parents were using, a sister who had a little control of the family because she was earning more than anyone, a sister who was also helping us out so I was in no way supposed to piss her off. Back then, I get to talk to her on the phone or get a letter once in awhile, she sounded different to my big confusion, she always asked about how I was doing, and the only orders I got from her was to get my grades up. Our eldest had this thing, being soft spoken but deadly, saying one thing but acting the opposite, so I figured maybe the other one was the same. I always thought, that instead of telling me I had to follow her directives because she was capable of stuff, it would have gone better if people would had just asked me to respect her as a sister. But then again, we are talking about me here, I think I would still rebel that hard, only if I was told to respect her instead of fear her, I would had have someone to actually talk to about the problems I had. But that’s the past now, getting to know her was hard at first, I realized who she really was when my husband tried to point out what was real, and what was not. I had only been able to know her thru my husband’s eyes, which was a real “eye” opener so to speak.
I had concluded that this sister of mine is as complex as anyone I know, yes opinionated to a fault, a control freak when it comes to her siblings, as head strong as me when she thinks she is right, a total workaholic and a lot more, the only difference is that, no matter how she is, specially with us, its because a part of the reason why she does these things is because she cares for us, the other part, I honestly can say I’m still trying to figure out. It is just nice that the myths had been separated from what is real.
Don’t get me wrong, I firmly believe she is crazy sometimes, most of the time she is sane, being older gives her more power over her younger siblings I guess, but I would never EVER discount the fact that she truly loves us, no matter who we are, and what we are, that’s why she is crazily overprotective.
One thing though, I am still discovering who she is, I still get surprise when she does the complete opposite of what I was told, like the preconditioned idea of her , and what I am discovering about her, I honestly truly love.
Touching base
I recently reconnected with people I know in my past. The memories I have with most of these people are good. I’ve seen them all grown up now, with families and careers. I also see them living all over the world that makes me proud to know them. Their dreams when we were smaller had evolved and so had they.
As for some of them, my last memory of them are hurtful, and guess what, I am the one doing the hurting way back then. In spite of this past, to my huge relief, they have gracefully forgiven me for my transgressions, which made them saints to my eyes. So just a few days ago, I decided to touch base and find all former friends and ask for them to exonerate me. Again, lo and behold, almost all of them did.
To the ones who haven’t yet, I will be looking forward when they do decide to be merciful, but for now I am content that I was able to ask them. I’m really lucky to have found these frenemies and have been able to apologize. At least now, I could sleep a little bit better than before. Not that I wasn’t sleeping better before, just more betterer now! Hahaha!
now if only asking for forgiveness is that easy with loved ones, just how to go about it, hmmm, scary, can't convey what i really want to say. time to think really hard.
As for some of them, my last memory of them are hurtful, and guess what, I am the one doing the hurting way back then. In spite of this past, to my huge relief, they have gracefully forgiven me for my transgressions, which made them saints to my eyes. So just a few days ago, I decided to touch base and find all former friends and ask for them to exonerate me. Again, lo and behold, almost all of them did.
To the ones who haven’t yet, I will be looking forward when they do decide to be merciful, but for now I am content that I was able to ask them. I’m really lucky to have found these frenemies and have been able to apologize. At least now, I could sleep a little bit better than before. Not that I wasn’t sleeping better before, just more betterer now! Hahaha!
now if only asking for forgiveness is that easy with loved ones, just how to go about it, hmmm, scary, can't convey what i really want to say. time to think really hard.
Monday, October 26, 2009
The third
My bro the engineer is one of the people I most admire. Don’t get me wrong, I will also talk about my other great siblings, and I admire them too, but for now, let me talk about my bro. again let me say he is a great engineer, very quite, opinionated, often moody, artistic, constantly a realist. That’s how I perceived him when I was younger.
When we grew up, he change just a bit, still a realist, still moody, opinionate – even more so, artistic - I don’t know about that no more, and he is not quite anymore, maybe because he met my sister-in-law, let me just say he bloomed under her ministration.
Like my other siblings, he was blessed with a great mind, I often said to myself that he can calculate faster than superman, but I guess, he should be being an engineer and superman was known to be faster than a speeding bullet not great in numbers, in fact he was just a journalist. He was great in numbers, he tried to teach me, but I guess he wasn’t a teacher of a wandering mind; he couldn’t impart his greatness to me back in high school. When he took his board, there was no surprise that he placed very high, at that time when everyone was congratulating him, I was wondering to myself, duh! Didn’t anyone but me expected him to place. Then I realized, he questioned himself back then. And looking back, he often question himself, a lot, maybe this is the pitfall of an intelligent man, I wouldn’t know, I am good at school but not like the caliber of my siblings.
And of all my siblings, I talk to him the least. Maybe because, when we were growing up, I made his life more miserable being connected to me. I could understand his misery of being a big brother to me especially. I just wished he understood why I was such in that state. I never asked him if he really understood, even in the present tense. But having his kind of mind, I think he had came to a conclusion, I don’t know if it’s a good conclusion or not, but whatever it is, I hope he’ll love me as much as I do him, anyway who wouldn’t love a misguided relative, a younger sister at that.
For now, my greatest worry of him is his health, as I’ve said, of all of my siblings; I talk to him the least. We sometimes talk, awkwardly, but at least talk, its hard to outright ask him about his health, especially when we almost know nothing about each other now. At least, I could outright ask God to keep him healthy.
Keep safe bro!
When we grew up, he change just a bit, still a realist, still moody, opinionate – even more so, artistic - I don’t know about that no more, and he is not quite anymore, maybe because he met my sister-in-law, let me just say he bloomed under her ministration.
Like my other siblings, he was blessed with a great mind, I often said to myself that he can calculate faster than superman, but I guess, he should be being an engineer and superman was known to be faster than a speeding bullet not great in numbers, in fact he was just a journalist. He was great in numbers, he tried to teach me, but I guess he wasn’t a teacher of a wandering mind; he couldn’t impart his greatness to me back in high school. When he took his board, there was no surprise that he placed very high, at that time when everyone was congratulating him, I was wondering to myself, duh! Didn’t anyone but me expected him to place. Then I realized, he questioned himself back then. And looking back, he often question himself, a lot, maybe this is the pitfall of an intelligent man, I wouldn’t know, I am good at school but not like the caliber of my siblings.
And of all my siblings, I talk to him the least. Maybe because, when we were growing up, I made his life more miserable being connected to me. I could understand his misery of being a big brother to me especially. I just wished he understood why I was such in that state. I never asked him if he really understood, even in the present tense. But having his kind of mind, I think he had came to a conclusion, I don’t know if it’s a good conclusion or not, but whatever it is, I hope he’ll love me as much as I do him, anyway who wouldn’t love a misguided relative, a younger sister at that.
For now, my greatest worry of him is his health, as I’ve said, of all of my siblings; I talk to him the least. We sometimes talk, awkwardly, but at least talk, its hard to outright ask him about his health, especially when we almost know nothing about each other now. At least, I could outright ask God to keep him healthy.
Keep safe bro!
house hunting
Transferring to a new home is a tedious process. It’s all that work that sets me off actually, how I wish I could just rub a magic lamp and asks the genie to magically transport me to the new home, especially if you come from a flooded home.
You may think it’s supposed to be faster since most of your things, yup most not half, are considered trash. I think it’s the mentality we have called. You’d try to save anything salvageable or with sentimental value. When the water started to rise, the only things I was able to secure were the pictures and some stuff I couldn’t live without. So sorting thru the “trash” was a horrible experience. Another thing that made it harder was the fact that everyone, I mean everyone was also moving upward because of the flood, so rental fee went up, the house that went P5k before was being rented out between P7500 to P9500. So it was really hard.
The house we got is a miniature one, maybe by our standards. We are used to get a big rental house, probably because we are a big family. I am not really complaining, after looking for almost three weeks, it’s decent enough, but still, every time someone moves, they are bound to hit someone or something. Picture this, when you enter our place, the first thing you’ll see is the dining table and there’s that itsy bitsy space that you can pass thru (if you move sideways, it will be faster and you’ll not bump the wall or the table) so you’ll reach the bedroom door. The only plus thing about having a small house is we didn’t have much to put in it so it will do. But I still worry for the incoming future. You see my relatives from the states are coming, and I don’t have a clue where to put them, maybe I’ll suggest camping under the stars for a day, the kids would have a good time, imagining them all in the house makes me really smile, it would be nice to have them over, cause its been awhile, but I think the house would whine. Gotta make a plan soon, I don’t see my siblings/hubby being comfortable in my place. But I would guarantee the talk we would share about the house. If there’s one thing about my siblings, they are as opinionated as me; I can picture it now, BIG MABELLE in tiny house, hahaha!
Mud and clothes don’t really mesh well. You would realized that all that hype about detergent soaps on TV would ease some of the burden, but I gotta tell you, its all b*ll. Words like “ultra”, “with bleach”, “sunshine white”, “lemon scent”, “power cleanser”, “anti-stain formula” or any other b.s. won’t make that stinky-muddy-brown-water-log-shirt into the once white shirt you’ve always loved. Believe me, I REALLY tried, really hard.
Books? We got a million of them, courtesy of my daughters and sister. We save only a few of them, novels, magazines (my mags!!!!!), school/text books, etc., all gone in an instance. The house seems naked without them, but I figured, if we had saved them all, my kids won’t have places on top of the cabinets where we perched along side with the couple of valuables we saved. And don’t try to save the books by drying them under the sun, some Einstein told us it works, and stupid me actually followed the neighbor who I’ve seen trying to talk to a rock (which the neighbors said was the house of the black dwarves). Go figure. I can guarantee you that all the pages will stick, so wet books + sun = a hard object to throw on stupid people, specially the ones who talk to odd looking rocks.
Furniture, wahhhhh! Wooden Shoe rack – gone, Leather couch – something pointed had ripped it during the onslaught of the flood, center table - firewood, dining table – huhuhuhu! Still can be used but needs a new coat of paint plus we need to repair them it wobbles now. Let’s just say, we transferred to the new home lighter than before.
And don’t get me started on the appliances. We had two television sets, now we got one, the other one couldn’t be repaired. The repairman also told me to throw away the washer, it may work sometimes and often times it won’t, plus it might electrocute someone. I test that theory everyday here, sometimes it works, often times it doesn’t, and yes I get a boost of electric ever so often. My husband whines about this, but I hate doing the laundry using my hands, I just joke to him that the electricity makes my blood younger, which makes him madder. But what I am supposed to do, kids makes a mountain of laundry every single day. The desktop computer works even with a virus in it, although the keyboard didn’t. It was fun watching my eldest trying to go online using the onscreen keyboard. I eventually gave in and bought a cheap keyboard, we still don’t got cable and the kids are really whining, specially the little ones, at least this way they can still watch cartoons. The 3 refrigerators I got, only 2 could be repaired. They have to change a part of the motor or something. Other small appliance didn’t survive, coffeemakers, waffle makers, etc. little things we slowly bought.
It sucks. But amazingly, I learn something new every single day and still can see something funny or serious about the situation. Nowadays, my family hates me, you see after the flood, they are required to swim every 4pm. Fifty laps for the older kids, and five for my youngest daughter, for my youngest son, he is just learning, but still comments on how he hates to swim. With my hubby, it’s a little bit harder to badger him to swim everyday, “its not gonna be good if the flood comes and I have to send our youngest to save you” speech gets him to go. They all whine a lot and says I’m overdoing it, and maybe I am overdoing it when I said, next time, we all are going to practice swimming in mud. Call me hyper or crazy, im just making sure that if another flood does come and I won’t be there to save them, at least they would have a fighting chance.
You may think it’s supposed to be faster since most of your things, yup most not half, are considered trash. I think it’s the mentality we have called. You’d try to save anything salvageable or with sentimental value. When the water started to rise, the only things I was able to secure were the pictures and some stuff I couldn’t live without. So sorting thru the “trash” was a horrible experience. Another thing that made it harder was the fact that everyone, I mean everyone was also moving upward because of the flood, so rental fee went up, the house that went P5k before was being rented out between P7500 to P9500. So it was really hard.
The house we got is a miniature one, maybe by our standards. We are used to get a big rental house, probably because we are a big family. I am not really complaining, after looking for almost three weeks, it’s decent enough, but still, every time someone moves, they are bound to hit someone or something. Picture this, when you enter our place, the first thing you’ll see is the dining table and there’s that itsy bitsy space that you can pass thru (if you move sideways, it will be faster and you’ll not bump the wall or the table) so you’ll reach the bedroom door. The only plus thing about having a small house is we didn’t have much to put in it so it will do. But I still worry for the incoming future. You see my relatives from the states are coming, and I don’t have a clue where to put them, maybe I’ll suggest camping under the stars for a day, the kids would have a good time, imagining them all in the house makes me really smile, it would be nice to have them over, cause its been awhile, but I think the house would whine. Gotta make a plan soon, I don’t see my siblings/hubby being comfortable in my place. But I would guarantee the talk we would share about the house. If there’s one thing about my siblings, they are as opinionated as me; I can picture it now, BIG MABELLE in tiny house, hahaha!
Mud and clothes don’t really mesh well. You would realized that all that hype about detergent soaps on TV would ease some of the burden, but I gotta tell you, its all b*ll. Words like “ultra”, “with bleach”, “sunshine white”, “lemon scent”, “power cleanser”, “anti-stain formula” or any other b.s. won’t make that stinky-muddy-brown-water-log-shirt into the once white shirt you’ve always loved. Believe me, I REALLY tried, really hard.
Books? We got a million of them, courtesy of my daughters and sister. We save only a few of them, novels, magazines (my mags!!!!!), school/text books, etc., all gone in an instance. The house seems naked without them, but I figured, if we had saved them all, my kids won’t have places on top of the cabinets where we perched along side with the couple of valuables we saved. And don’t try to save the books by drying them under the sun, some Einstein told us it works, and stupid me actually followed the neighbor who I’ve seen trying to talk to a rock (which the neighbors said was the house of the black dwarves). Go figure. I can guarantee you that all the pages will stick, so wet books + sun = a hard object to throw on stupid people, specially the ones who talk to odd looking rocks.
Furniture, wahhhhh! Wooden Shoe rack – gone, Leather couch – something pointed had ripped it during the onslaught of the flood, center table - firewood, dining table – huhuhuhu! Still can be used but needs a new coat of paint plus we need to repair them it wobbles now. Let’s just say, we transferred to the new home lighter than before.
And don’t get me started on the appliances. We had two television sets, now we got one, the other one couldn’t be repaired. The repairman also told me to throw away the washer, it may work sometimes and often times it won’t, plus it might electrocute someone. I test that theory everyday here, sometimes it works, often times it doesn’t, and yes I get a boost of electric ever so often. My husband whines about this, but I hate doing the laundry using my hands, I just joke to him that the electricity makes my blood younger, which makes him madder. But what I am supposed to do, kids makes a mountain of laundry every single day. The desktop computer works even with a virus in it, although the keyboard didn’t. It was fun watching my eldest trying to go online using the onscreen keyboard. I eventually gave in and bought a cheap keyboard, we still don’t got cable and the kids are really whining, specially the little ones, at least this way they can still watch cartoons. The 3 refrigerators I got, only 2 could be repaired. They have to change a part of the motor or something. Other small appliance didn’t survive, coffeemakers, waffle makers, etc. little things we slowly bought.
It sucks. But amazingly, I learn something new every single day and still can see something funny or serious about the situation. Nowadays, my family hates me, you see after the flood, they are required to swim every 4pm. Fifty laps for the older kids, and five for my youngest daughter, for my youngest son, he is just learning, but still comments on how he hates to swim. With my hubby, it’s a little bit harder to badger him to swim everyday, “its not gonna be good if the flood comes and I have to send our youngest to save you” speech gets him to go. They all whine a lot and says I’m overdoing it, and maybe I am overdoing it when I said, next time, we all are going to practice swimming in mud. Call me hyper or crazy, im just making sure that if another flood does come and I won’t be there to save them, at least they would have a fighting chance.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Death
Whenever a child comes to you with a problem, you readily take it on. You try to make sure whatever it may be, you’ll be there and tackle it with everything you got, to make any problem or pain go away. But what do you do if the problem is death.
It was really hard explaining to the kids about my mom’s death then. I made this speech about her being old already, her heart giving out on her, and so on. I also told them that don’t worry or be sad about mom, because at that moment, she was being taken care of, she was in God’s hand. And it was hard for them to get closure for all they saw of their lola was an urn, but they eventually had gotten over it and started to move on.
But just three days ago, my oldest called me from school, an old friend was shot earlier that morning by a thief. When she came home that day, she was still so sad and all I could do was hug and ask her if she was okay. How do I comfort my child? When a good friend of hers was taken so young, I couldn’t make a speech about being old, or about his heart giving up. And how was I going to explain about the injustice of how he died. How do I make it better? I just wish that my feeble attempt at explaining death would have ease a bit of her pain. Death I realized, is part of life, although painful, it must be acknowledge and accepted.
I fervently hope that the family of my daughter’s friend, would be alright soon. It’s never easy losing someone you really love.
It was really hard explaining to the kids about my mom’s death then. I made this speech about her being old already, her heart giving out on her, and so on. I also told them that don’t worry or be sad about mom, because at that moment, she was being taken care of, she was in God’s hand. And it was hard for them to get closure for all they saw of their lola was an urn, but they eventually had gotten over it and started to move on.
But just three days ago, my oldest called me from school, an old friend was shot earlier that morning by a thief. When she came home that day, she was still so sad and all I could do was hug and ask her if she was okay. How do I comfort my child? When a good friend of hers was taken so young, I couldn’t make a speech about being old, or about his heart giving up. And how was I going to explain about the injustice of how he died. How do I make it better? I just wish that my feeble attempt at explaining death would have ease a bit of her pain. Death I realized, is part of life, although painful, it must be acknowledge and accepted.
I fervently hope that the family of my daughter’s friend, would be alright soon. It’s never easy losing someone you really love.
Friday, October 16, 2009
musing to myself about first names
Having a child is God’s special gift to any parent. You hold in your hands a great deal of power to mold a young being into adulthood, to show a budding mind to wondrous possibilities. And most importantly, to name the child as you see fit, I think that’s the greatest high a parent can have. But lots of parents I realized had something else in mind when they name their young ones. I for one would admit to name my kids so uniquely that I literally misspell their original forms of their names. For instance, instead of using the letter “C”, I use “K”, as an example: Karla instead of Carla.
But nowadays, when my kids introduce me to their new friends, I sometimes do a double take. Their names are getting extreme, I don’t know to the rest of the world if this is not extreme, but here out in the province, it’s a little bit perplexing. I’ve met a Data, a Leader, a Galaxy and Khawla to name a few. I don’t know what and why their parents name them this way, I wish I could ask them, maybe it has special meaning to them, but I don’t know if I can ask without offending. So im stuck to just blogging to myself and keep on wondering why. Oh well, maybe that’s life now, maybe I’ve been keeping myself inside of the house too much, maybe its time to actually get out of the house already, LOL.
But nowadays, when my kids introduce me to their new friends, I sometimes do a double take. Their names are getting extreme, I don’t know to the rest of the world if this is not extreme, but here out in the province, it’s a little bit perplexing. I’ve met a Data, a Leader, a Galaxy and Khawla to name a few. I don’t know what and why their parents name them this way, I wish I could ask them, maybe it has special meaning to them, but I don’t know if I can ask without offending. So im stuck to just blogging to myself and keep on wondering why. Oh well, maybe that’s life now, maybe I’ve been keeping myself inside of the house too much, maybe its time to actually get out of the house already, LOL.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Prayer
With just a snap of a God’s fingers, people went back to the basic. You learn to disengage yourself from your material possessions and value just one thing, . .. .. . life. You won’t mind so much the things you have invested in like the very first lavish leather sofa you yourself bought with your hard earned money. I remember the pride I felt when I bought it, how ever so often, I would sit on it with the lights closed and just immerse myself in it. This was a hard truth you have to accept, and accept graciously. I didn’t even blinked when I saw it all muddy and ruined. All I could see was that God had made sure that anything and everything I invested in, was just that … investments.
To value life was a good first lesson to gain. To be grateful was second, and to always place your life in the Lord’s hand. As what my husband taught us every night, to pray this simple words of faith:
I place this day,
my life,
my love ones,
my works, in the Lord’s hands.
Whatever happens,
whatever results,
If I am in the Lord’s hands,
it is the Lord’s will and it is good.
To value life was a good first lesson to gain. To be grateful was second, and to always place your life in the Lord’s hand. As what my husband taught us every night, to pray this simple words of faith:
I place this day,
my life,
my love ones,
my works, in the Lord’s hands.
Whatever happens,
whatever results,
If I am in the Lord’s hands,
it is the Lord’s will and it is good.
Bagyong Ondoy
When you look at the news, you would see that the rage Mother Nature unleashed during the storm “Ondoy” was really scary. But if you are in the middle of it, and you can’t seem to know how you could protect your four kids from it, while watching the flood water rise, you would undoubtedly say it was downright horrifying.
I’ve always prided myself to be like those mothers that protect their kids at all cost. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a perfect mom, but I strive to be, I discipline my kids, but without any form of violence. I don’t believe in spanking, yelling or torture for them to follow me, do their chores or be nice. So when someone hurts them verbally or physically, I transform into what I call a super mom and attack anybody who has done so. But a mother can only do so much, it’s a different matter when it’s the environment is the aggressor. You’ll be reminded how tiny and defenseless you are in this big world.
The rain started to pour late Friday evening, when we woke up, it was still raining hard that by 7am the electricity dies. I didn’t think much about it, for in our province, whenever it rains hard; the electric company seems to take precautionary measures and shuts off the electric. Due to the location of the house, whenever the electric goes off, the water supply starts to slow down, so when the water did stop, I still didn’t think much of it. It had been a habit that every Saturday we have this late leisurely breakfast between me and the kids, which we had, we talked about things including how foul the weather was, but still I didn’t think much of it. By 10.30 am, the kids were bored and since the younger ones were fascinated with the rain, I let them play out in the rain, I thought to myself, just this once I’ll let them have a “rain shower”. Then I proceeded to video them. They were all shouting and laughing all through out, they were chasing each other with “tabos” and ‘baldes”. I was so caught up in their cute antics that I really didn’t look out to the streets.
I called them in after 20 minutes of playtime, what came next was a great shocker. At first I saw that the streets had water in them, I was so fascinated with the sight that I told the maids to change the clothes of the younger kids for me to keep on watching. It was okay at first but my fascination turned chilly when I notice that every 5 minutes the water seems to rise just about a foot high, I called my eldest and showed her the water rising, then I told the our houseboy to look at the main road and report to me what the main road looks like down the bend. When he came back, his shorts were muddy and wet and he reported that the water down the main road was up to thigh high and it seems that it was rising. I started to be concern, I’ve never been one to panic, but that day, a chill was creeping up my spine and couldn’t shake the feeling, instincts told me to get ready. I went this time to my cousin’s house which was also my neighbor and was aghast that they were starting to pack and was planning to evacuate. He told me that never in his lifetime living in this area had flood water came into his house, and by this time the water in his house was just below the knee.
Although, there wasn’t any flood water yet in my home, I started to instruct to pack a change of clothes for everyone, at the same time I had instructed everyone to put all the valuable items and appliances, including precious pictures and books to the tallest part of the house. In less than an hour, we were prepared to leave our home and go to my mother-in-law’s house, I deduced that since she had a second floor, we would be safe there no matter what. I told the boy to go ahead and bring the things to my in-laws house. But just in a few minutes, he came back to report that the water up ahead the bend was starting to rise and this time it was rushing in down the streets. His clothes were wet up to his waist now, and I have concluded it was better not to chance the roads, since he did say even he was having a hard time crossing the road, how much more a kid or someone holding a kid.
In less than an hour, I saw the water slowly rise steadily at first, and then I think before noon, I head this great big sound like a muted boom, and water came in a rush, it entered the house so fast that I thought to myself, this can’t be happening. We placed the kids up the furniture that was tall but still it was not high enough, we transferred them up the tall cabinets and this time the water couldn’t reach them, but the water was still rising, I started to look a way out just in case the water does still go up. I found an opening on the roof that went up the roof and had it ready, I asked the Lord to stop the water from rushing in, and it seems that He heard us, for the water stopped coming in.
They said that when you’re in danger, your life flashes before your eyes. I totally don’t believe that. Because at that particular moment, all I can think about was that I need to make sure my kids would be fine, I keep planning one step ahead, trying to out think what would come next. I was so afraid that more was coming, so I talked to the kids and told them to get ready; I told them what the plan was, and how we were suppose to do it. But even with the plan, I realized that something might go wrong, and securing the kids with plans was not enough.
God must have been watching us and made sure we were alright. But it showed me that I can’t protect my kids from everything. And I hate that feeling that I can’t always secure them. But on the other hand, I saw the strength of my two older daughters, how responsible they can be. They didn’t whine or cry but was planning along side with me. I also learned to value life and be gracious about everything around me, the smiling faces of my family, the rainbow, the chirping of the birds, even the noisy neighbors; it is really good to be alive!
I’ve always prided myself to be like those mothers that protect their kids at all cost. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a perfect mom, but I strive to be, I discipline my kids, but without any form of violence. I don’t believe in spanking, yelling or torture for them to follow me, do their chores or be nice. So when someone hurts them verbally or physically, I transform into what I call a super mom and attack anybody who has done so. But a mother can only do so much, it’s a different matter when it’s the environment is the aggressor. You’ll be reminded how tiny and defenseless you are in this big world.
The rain started to pour late Friday evening, when we woke up, it was still raining hard that by 7am the electricity dies. I didn’t think much about it, for in our province, whenever it rains hard; the electric company seems to take precautionary measures and shuts off the electric. Due to the location of the house, whenever the electric goes off, the water supply starts to slow down, so when the water did stop, I still didn’t think much of it. It had been a habit that every Saturday we have this late leisurely breakfast between me and the kids, which we had, we talked about things including how foul the weather was, but still I didn’t think much of it. By 10.30 am, the kids were bored and since the younger ones were fascinated with the rain, I let them play out in the rain, I thought to myself, just this once I’ll let them have a “rain shower”. Then I proceeded to video them. They were all shouting and laughing all through out, they were chasing each other with “tabos” and ‘baldes”. I was so caught up in their cute antics that I really didn’t look out to the streets.
I called them in after 20 minutes of playtime, what came next was a great shocker. At first I saw that the streets had water in them, I was so fascinated with the sight that I told the maids to change the clothes of the younger kids for me to keep on watching. It was okay at first but my fascination turned chilly when I notice that every 5 minutes the water seems to rise just about a foot high, I called my eldest and showed her the water rising, then I told the our houseboy to look at the main road and report to me what the main road looks like down the bend. When he came back, his shorts were muddy and wet and he reported that the water down the main road was up to thigh high and it seems that it was rising. I started to be concern, I’ve never been one to panic, but that day, a chill was creeping up my spine and couldn’t shake the feeling, instincts told me to get ready. I went this time to my cousin’s house which was also my neighbor and was aghast that they were starting to pack and was planning to evacuate. He told me that never in his lifetime living in this area had flood water came into his house, and by this time the water in his house was just below the knee.
Although, there wasn’t any flood water yet in my home, I started to instruct to pack a change of clothes for everyone, at the same time I had instructed everyone to put all the valuable items and appliances, including precious pictures and books to the tallest part of the house. In less than an hour, we were prepared to leave our home and go to my mother-in-law’s house, I deduced that since she had a second floor, we would be safe there no matter what. I told the boy to go ahead and bring the things to my in-laws house. But just in a few minutes, he came back to report that the water up ahead the bend was starting to rise and this time it was rushing in down the streets. His clothes were wet up to his waist now, and I have concluded it was better not to chance the roads, since he did say even he was having a hard time crossing the road, how much more a kid or someone holding a kid.
In less than an hour, I saw the water slowly rise steadily at first, and then I think before noon, I head this great big sound like a muted boom, and water came in a rush, it entered the house so fast that I thought to myself, this can’t be happening. We placed the kids up the furniture that was tall but still it was not high enough, we transferred them up the tall cabinets and this time the water couldn’t reach them, but the water was still rising, I started to look a way out just in case the water does still go up. I found an opening on the roof that went up the roof and had it ready, I asked the Lord to stop the water from rushing in, and it seems that He heard us, for the water stopped coming in.
They said that when you’re in danger, your life flashes before your eyes. I totally don’t believe that. Because at that particular moment, all I can think about was that I need to make sure my kids would be fine, I keep planning one step ahead, trying to out think what would come next. I was so afraid that more was coming, so I talked to the kids and told them to get ready; I told them what the plan was, and how we were suppose to do it. But even with the plan, I realized that something might go wrong, and securing the kids with plans was not enough.
God must have been watching us and made sure we were alright. But it showed me that I can’t protect my kids from everything. And I hate that feeling that I can’t always secure them. But on the other hand, I saw the strength of my two older daughters, how responsible they can be. They didn’t whine or cry but was planning along side with me. I also learned to value life and be gracious about everything around me, the smiling faces of my family, the rainbow, the chirping of the birds, even the noisy neighbors; it is really good to be alive!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
RFID me likey!
Have you been listening to the news lately, they have this new government device called the RFID or Radio Frequency Identification Device that they want to install on cars. This device is widely used in other countries for IT Asset Tracking, Library Book Identification, Race Timing, Passports, Mobile Payments, Transportation Payments, Product Tracking, Human Implants, Schools & Universities and so much more. The LTO’s goal is to mainstream not only vehicle registration and also to deter carnapping.
This kind of news is readily welcomed, not only will it speed up the registration, it can also ensure the compliance of government regulations, once more if they would really deter carnapping, then everything is going to be great.
Unfortunately, privacy rights issues are being raised. A militant legislator said on the news that this device can be used by the government as a “spychip”, he also had pointed out that motorist will also be burdened with an added P350 during registration.
But on the other hand, if only high officials of the LTO and police can access the databases, it doesn’t pose so much of a problem, and the information stored in the chip are usual information you would give to your banker, your credit card consultant, your doctor, oh wait, the information you give out to these people is much more sensitive compared to what the chip would be storing.
So I guess, the chip for me poses no problems, I have heard a lot of people who had their cars stolen, some had just bought their car after almost two years of savings, some have cars that they really care and so many more stories I think this blog cannot accommodate, if we could actually diminish this from happening, well bravo. As for spying and the works, I think the greatest fear would be for the ultra rich or the high profile personalities who would rather stay out the limelight or get blackmailed or be harassed, but I believe that if someone really want to do harm on someone else, you won’t need a chip for that, there are other ways to get this sensitive info. I also think it’s for the greater good, if the majority will benefit from this move. And as for the “spychip issue”, I for one would really want to know how many cars my governor has, and with the salary he makes, I would really like an explanation how he was able to attain such number of cars, wouldn’t you?
This kind of news is readily welcomed, not only will it speed up the registration, it can also ensure the compliance of government regulations, once more if they would really deter carnapping, then everything is going to be great.
Unfortunately, privacy rights issues are being raised. A militant legislator said on the news that this device can be used by the government as a “spychip”, he also had pointed out that motorist will also be burdened with an added P350 during registration.
But on the other hand, if only high officials of the LTO and police can access the databases, it doesn’t pose so much of a problem, and the information stored in the chip are usual information you would give to your banker, your credit card consultant, your doctor, oh wait, the information you give out to these people is much more sensitive compared to what the chip would be storing.
So I guess, the chip for me poses no problems, I have heard a lot of people who had their cars stolen, some had just bought their car after almost two years of savings, some have cars that they really care and so many more stories I think this blog cannot accommodate, if we could actually diminish this from happening, well bravo. As for spying and the works, I think the greatest fear would be for the ultra rich or the high profile personalities who would rather stay out the limelight or get blackmailed or be harassed, but I believe that if someone really want to do harm on someone else, you won’t need a chip for that, there are other ways to get this sensitive info. I also think it’s for the greater good, if the majority will benefit from this move. And as for the “spychip issue”, I for one would really want to know how many cars my governor has, and with the salary he makes, I would really like an explanation how he was able to attain such number of cars, wouldn’t you?
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
The more they multiply, the stupider they get!
Have you ever had a bad day because of stupid people? Back in my youth, you could just count with your fingers the number of stupid people you know. But nowadays, I cannot understand that they seem to be multiplying by the hundreds now. By the time I’m pushing myself with a wheel chair, I have this funny feeling that they would come by the thousands. It’s like as if the stars are right for them to meet up and procreate or something.
I’m not talking about dumb people; they are in a different category, a bit annoying but forgivable in my eyes. When I said stupid, I mean these kinds of people:
1. A parent who hits his/her child, these are the ones who really make me mad all day long. You’ve been blessed by God with this small miracle and when he or she is barely walking, the parent would stupidly start hitting. A lot of people would wish what you got, but you hit this walking wonder just because you don’t want to be bothered while you’re drinking or doing dope.
2. A teacher that dispenses verbal attack on a student. Just because you had a bad day, doesn’t give you the right to snap at your students. You must be really stupid to think that parents sent their kids to where you teach so you could traumatize and terrorize them. The most atrocious act of a teacher would be to actually snap at a child just on a whim or a habit. If you want respect, earn it, don’t expect it to be given to you because you can yell and make fun of them. For one, you’re the adult, so don’t act like a child.
3. A pedophile, so your parents didn’t hug you as much, or they hug/etc you too much, what right to you have to hurt and abuse a child? No matter what you’ve been thru, you never EVER have that right to dispense this kind of atrocity to another human being.
These are just some example of people who I considered stupid; I despise these kinds of people. But it seems they are multiplying. Reeducating everyone about the rights of a child would be a small but overwhelming step in helping them out. Please help stop these crimes against children. Please be an advocate of the Bantay Bata Program. They can’t fight alone, they need someone to hold their hand and be strong for them.
Bantay Bata 163
I’m not talking about dumb people; they are in a different category, a bit annoying but forgivable in my eyes. When I said stupid, I mean these kinds of people:
1. A parent who hits his/her child, these are the ones who really make me mad all day long. You’ve been blessed by God with this small miracle and when he or she is barely walking, the parent would stupidly start hitting. A lot of people would wish what you got, but you hit this walking wonder just because you don’t want to be bothered while you’re drinking or doing dope.
2. A teacher that dispenses verbal attack on a student. Just because you had a bad day, doesn’t give you the right to snap at your students. You must be really stupid to think that parents sent their kids to where you teach so you could traumatize and terrorize them. The most atrocious act of a teacher would be to actually snap at a child just on a whim or a habit. If you want respect, earn it, don’t expect it to be given to you because you can yell and make fun of them. For one, you’re the adult, so don’t act like a child.
3. A pedophile, so your parents didn’t hug you as much, or they hug/etc you too much, what right to you have to hurt and abuse a child? No matter what you’ve been thru, you never EVER have that right to dispense this kind of atrocity to another human being.
These are just some example of people who I considered stupid; I despise these kinds of people. But it seems they are multiplying. Reeducating everyone about the rights of a child would be a small but overwhelming step in helping them out. Please help stop these crimes against children. Please be an advocate of the Bantay Bata Program. They can’t fight alone, they need someone to hold their hand and be strong for them.
Bantay Bata 163
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Missing you
i recently found my fave song online, i love the music of the 80's, i think the music of that age suited us well, even up to now. whenever i open the radio, i would never hear it, so it was to my surprised {yes everyone, i still get surprised when it comes to technology and the computer} that searching youtube for recent fave songs that they got the music "Missing you".
music so it seems, takes you back to when you first heard it, to what you were doing and even to the feeling when you first latched on to the tune, then the lyrics become a litany in your head then you co-relate it to something in your life.
"Missing you" is a love song, a heartbreak-in-denial type, probably you'll realize its a song that really picked me up a little bit during one of the most trying time of my life, it wasn't new when i first heard it, but it had a big inpact on me that i sung it whenever and wherever i go for the next 3 years. i eventually stopped, my environment was changing, so singing it was considered an old thing to do.
but now that i can humble accept that im ageing, i tried to look for it again. the the nostalgia is as strong as the first time i start singing it. funny huh?
anyways, here the lyrics, maybe im not the only fool who actually sing this song ...peace!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqyWgGgIe8w
Missing You
Every time I think of you
I always catch my breath
And I'm still standing here
And you're miles away
And I'm wondering why you left
And there's a storm that's raging
Through my frozen heart tonight
I hear your name in certain circles
And it always makes me smile
I spend my time
Thinking about you
And it's almost driving me wild
And its my heart that's breaking
Down this long distance line tonight
I ain't missing you at all
Since you've been gone
Away
I ain't missing you
No matter
What my friends say
There's a message
In the wild
And I'm sending you
this signal tonight
You don't know
How desperate I've become
And it looks like I'm losing this fight
In your world
I have no meaning
Though I'm trying hard
to understand
And it's my heart that's breaking
Down this long distance line tonight
I ain't missing you at all
Since you've been gone
Away
I ain't missing you
No matter
What i might say
there's a message that I'm sending out
Like a telegraph to your soul
And if I can't bridge this distance
Stop this heartbreak overload
I ain't missing you at all
Since you've been gone
Away
I ain't missing you
No matter
What i might say
I ain't missing you
I ain't missing you
no way
since you've been gone away
I keep lying to myself
And there's a storm that's raging
Through my frozen heart tonight
I ain't missing you at all
Since you've been gone
Away
I ain't missing you
No matter
What my friends say
Ain't missing you
I ain't missing you
I ain't missing you
I keep lying to myself
Ain't missing you
I ain't missing you
I ain't missing you
I ain't missing you
I ain't missing you
I ain't missing you
Ain't missing you
Oh no
No matter what my friends might say
I ain't missing you
music so it seems, takes you back to when you first heard it, to what you were doing and even to the feeling when you first latched on to the tune, then the lyrics become a litany in your head then you co-relate it to something in your life.
"Missing you" is a love song, a heartbreak-in-denial type, probably you'll realize its a song that really picked me up a little bit during one of the most trying time of my life, it wasn't new when i first heard it, but it had a big inpact on me that i sung it whenever and wherever i go for the next 3 years. i eventually stopped, my environment was changing, so singing it was considered an old thing to do.
but now that i can humble accept that im ageing, i tried to look for it again. the the nostalgia is as strong as the first time i start singing it. funny huh?
anyways, here the lyrics, maybe im not the only fool who actually sing this song ...peace!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqyWgGgIe8w
Missing You
Every time I think of you
I always catch my breath
And I'm still standing here
And you're miles away
And I'm wondering why you left
And there's a storm that's raging
Through my frozen heart tonight
I hear your name in certain circles
And it always makes me smile
I spend my time
Thinking about you
And it's almost driving me wild
And its my heart that's breaking
Down this long distance line tonight
I ain't missing you at all
Since you've been gone
Away
I ain't missing you
No matter
What my friends say
There's a message
In the wild
And I'm sending you
this signal tonight
You don't know
How desperate I've become
And it looks like I'm losing this fight
In your world
I have no meaning
Though I'm trying hard
to understand
And it's my heart that's breaking
Down this long distance line tonight
I ain't missing you at all
Since you've been gone
Away
I ain't missing you
No matter
What i might say
there's a message that I'm sending out
Like a telegraph to your soul
And if I can't bridge this distance
Stop this heartbreak overload
I ain't missing you at all
Since you've been gone
Away
I ain't missing you
No matter
What i might say
I ain't missing you
I ain't missing you
no way
since you've been gone away
I keep lying to myself
And there's a storm that's raging
Through my frozen heart tonight
I ain't missing you at all
Since you've been gone
Away
I ain't missing you
No matter
What my friends say
Ain't missing you
I ain't missing you
I ain't missing you
I keep lying to myself
Ain't missing you
I ain't missing you
I ain't missing you
I ain't missing you
I ain't missing you
I ain't missing you
Ain't missing you
Oh no
No matter what my friends might say
I ain't missing you
Thursday, September 17, 2009
The black sheep’s mom
I’ve been meaning to write this article for awhile now, but I never seem to have the time, but of course that’s my excuse. Why couldn’t I do it? Well let’s just say I never wanted to talk about me in a derogatory fashion, I’d rather talk about how cool or great I am, but I guess, I would be weaving a good fiction story again. Tsk Tsk.
I’m not such a bad human being, just a misguided one, again my excuse [told you I never like to say anything mean about me . . . *wink*], I admit, I’m not stupid enough not to know that the choices I made had a huge impact on the people around me, I’m one of those people who actually have an above average IQ {that is to my knowledge..Hehehe} so I can’t use the “coz I’m stupid excuse” for my actions or decisions, anyway who would want to be classified as stupid? Like I said, I am not such a bad human being, just a bitter one. I hated anything about me, who I was, what I was and how I was. I know, I didn’t get me either, but that’s how I could describe my thinking or my feeling. I won’t go into details about my great stunts, but let me just say, I left a lot of heartaches anywhere I go.
Saying that, you might understand the topic of my blog, to the “classified stupid”, I am the black sheep, and this blog is for my mom.
I hate my mom, but I love her more. I don’t know the psych mechanics of it all, but if a child screws up, most of the time they’re bound to blame their parents like I did. My mom wasn’t a saint either, I don’t know if I tried to block it out in my mind, but I never ever heard her tell me she loved me, her actions as a parent confused me too, and of course her reprimands always hit me like I didn’t deserve to live, evidently she had good reason to be, for I wasn’t such a saintly type of person either.
As a child I’ve was rebellious to say the least, like in a teenage movie, I enjoy wallowing in my pitiful life, trying to be great but failing, making a world of my own where the actors seem not to follow directions. It was a hateful life that I won’t wish upon even on my worst enemy. The more I grew up, the more I rebelled, it seems the right course at that time. It wasn’t worth it, the more I went against them, the more alienated I become, the more I become alienated, the more I miss being with them. Wanting them in my life was essential, but on the other hand I was getting hurt no matter what. It was such a hurtful cycle of wanting to be close to them and shoving them back just in case they might hurt me again that it took its toll on what I call my fragile psyche. I’ve learn that having a façade was the best way to live, the more I hurt the more I smile, when I cry it was sometimes an act, it became a great habit that it came to a point when I couldn’t differentiate what was the truth and what was a lie anymore.
Good thing I wasn’t running out of luck, you see, if there’s one thing good about my life is that I am very lucky. Of all my siblings I was always the lucky one, they deserved what I got, like debut, good school, better clothes, etc. and I was always surrounded by people who loved and cared for me. They were the once who hauled me to the therapist and had my head examined, yes, I am insane, I have a certificate to back me up that I was locked up. But enough about me, like I said this blog is for my mom.
My mom, I cried for her when I found out she passed away, I cried during the mass as well, but I’m still waiting to cry hard, I haven’t had the luxury of really having a good cry, I have tried to erase the memory of her passing, I can honestly say that I cannot remember when she died. My mom and I weren’t close, I never been her fave and never will, we never tried to reach out to each other coz it was to much hassle I guess, but in as much as I hated her, I did love her in my way, I still can’t give in to actually crying hard for her, you see, not yet, I believe if I do have a hard cry, I will be relieved and move on with my life, at least if I don’t stop mourning her, she’ll be always in my sick pretty little head, forever holding me.. ….
[blog notes started December 11, 2008, blog notes finished September 17, 2009]
I’m not such a bad human being, just a misguided one, again my excuse [told you I never like to say anything mean about me . . . *wink*], I admit, I’m not stupid enough not to know that the choices I made had a huge impact on the people around me, I’m one of those people who actually have an above average IQ {that is to my knowledge..Hehehe} so I can’t use the “coz I’m stupid excuse” for my actions or decisions, anyway who would want to be classified as stupid? Like I said, I am not such a bad human being, just a bitter one. I hated anything about me, who I was, what I was and how I was. I know, I didn’t get me either, but that’s how I could describe my thinking or my feeling. I won’t go into details about my great stunts, but let me just say, I left a lot of heartaches anywhere I go.
Saying that, you might understand the topic of my blog, to the “classified stupid”, I am the black sheep, and this blog is for my mom.
I hate my mom, but I love her more. I don’t know the psych mechanics of it all, but if a child screws up, most of the time they’re bound to blame their parents like I did. My mom wasn’t a saint either, I don’t know if I tried to block it out in my mind, but I never ever heard her tell me she loved me, her actions as a parent confused me too, and of course her reprimands always hit me like I didn’t deserve to live, evidently she had good reason to be, for I wasn’t such a saintly type of person either.
As a child I’ve was rebellious to say the least, like in a teenage movie, I enjoy wallowing in my pitiful life, trying to be great but failing, making a world of my own where the actors seem not to follow directions. It was a hateful life that I won’t wish upon even on my worst enemy. The more I grew up, the more I rebelled, it seems the right course at that time. It wasn’t worth it, the more I went against them, the more alienated I become, the more I become alienated, the more I miss being with them. Wanting them in my life was essential, but on the other hand I was getting hurt no matter what. It was such a hurtful cycle of wanting to be close to them and shoving them back just in case they might hurt me again that it took its toll on what I call my fragile psyche. I’ve learn that having a façade was the best way to live, the more I hurt the more I smile, when I cry it was sometimes an act, it became a great habit that it came to a point when I couldn’t differentiate what was the truth and what was a lie anymore.
Good thing I wasn’t running out of luck, you see, if there’s one thing good about my life is that I am very lucky. Of all my siblings I was always the lucky one, they deserved what I got, like debut, good school, better clothes, etc. and I was always surrounded by people who loved and cared for me. They were the once who hauled me to the therapist and had my head examined, yes, I am insane, I have a certificate to back me up that I was locked up. But enough about me, like I said this blog is for my mom.
My mom, I cried for her when I found out she passed away, I cried during the mass as well, but I’m still waiting to cry hard, I haven’t had the luxury of really having a good cry, I have tried to erase the memory of her passing, I can honestly say that I cannot remember when she died. My mom and I weren’t close, I never been her fave and never will, we never tried to reach out to each other coz it was to much hassle I guess, but in as much as I hated her, I did love her in my way, I still can’t give in to actually crying hard for her, you see, not yet, I believe if I do have a hard cry, I will be relieved and move on with my life, at least if I don’t stop mourning her, she’ll be always in my sick pretty little head, forever holding me.. ….
[blog notes started December 11, 2008, blog notes finished September 17, 2009]
Friday, September 11, 2009
Fake dealers
Ever since, dealers have always been part of the sari-sari store business. There are the soda (softdrinks) dealers, the beer suppliers, bread suppliers, school supply dealers, powdered milk suppliers, cigarette dealers to name a few.
But sadly, there are a number of unscrupulous people preying on the sari-sari biz, they come in all forms and sizes. Due to technology, They show you fake identification cards, give you impressive calling cards, introduce to you their supervisor who speaks in fluent english, produces "official" receipts and even comes with a van full of "products".
At a recent convention ( yes people, we have our own convention -- we, the small and medium entrepreneurs actually make the big wholesaler groceries more richer), the store owners were ask about woes in running this particular business, the problems ranged from very funny to serious.
The most serious of them all was about fake dealers, i rather call them con artists.... or swindlers... they victimize owners without a thought that owners worked hard on the capital they put into the biz.
these are some types of swindlers.
The Fake Rice supplier: This type show you small packs (size of a fist) of types of rice. when one gets to pick your choice they come back with the promised sack/s of rice. when you unpack your rice...you'll realize its less than 50 kilograms, according to the store owners who spoke in that convention he got 39 kilograms for the 50 kilograms he bought.
The Fake Personal Care Dealer: this type gives you a list of the product you want, when you pick up the things you want they deliver and you pay for them, they have real packaging, but with closer examination you realize the smell is missing. for instance a bottle of cologne would have the original bottle but has water in them instead of cologne.
THe Fake School supply dealer: They deliver pens without ink, notebook of 50 leaves when you ordered 70 leaves ( let's face it, if the buyer sees 70 leaves printed on the notebook, you'll assume it to be correct rather than count the pages of each notebook...specially if a buyer bought 10 reams notebooks = to 100 notebooks).
The Mobile Wholesaler: They sell anything and everything. The first delivery is legit, but the second delivery, specially if you order in bulk/boxes, they hit you hard, for each box, the upper half is legit merchandise and the lower half contains packs of crushed coconut shells.
The Fake Detergent Soap Dealers: These type gives you "product" with real packaging but not the real product inside, you'll only know when a "pissed" customer comes back for a refund.
i could go on with the list .... put it this way, think of every kind of product in the market.... for every product, there's like a dozen fake dealers....
so let us all keep our watch .... be alert ... check and double check identification cards.... with the technology now, we can arm ourselves with cellular phones.... yes...the one with the camera, for as real dealer, taking his picture is no big issue... but the fake ones.... lets just say the can join the Olympics... they could be our representative on the 200m dash...they are quite fast :)
But sadly, there are a number of unscrupulous people preying on the sari-sari biz, they come in all forms and sizes. Due to technology, They show you fake identification cards, give you impressive calling cards, introduce to you their supervisor who speaks in fluent english, produces "official" receipts and even comes with a van full of "products".
At a recent convention ( yes people, we have our own convention -- we, the small and medium entrepreneurs actually make the big wholesaler groceries more richer), the store owners were ask about woes in running this particular business, the problems ranged from very funny to serious.
The most serious of them all was about fake dealers, i rather call them con artists.... or swindlers... they victimize owners without a thought that owners worked hard on the capital they put into the biz.
these are some types of swindlers.
The Fake Rice supplier: This type show you small packs (size of a fist) of types of rice. when one gets to pick your choice they come back with the promised sack/s of rice. when you unpack your rice...you'll realize its less than 50 kilograms, according to the store owners who spoke in that convention he got 39 kilograms for the 50 kilograms he bought.
The Fake Personal Care Dealer: this type gives you a list of the product you want, when you pick up the things you want they deliver and you pay for them, they have real packaging, but with closer examination you realize the smell is missing. for instance a bottle of cologne would have the original bottle but has water in them instead of cologne.
THe Fake School supply dealer: They deliver pens without ink, notebook of 50 leaves when you ordered 70 leaves ( let's face it, if the buyer sees 70 leaves printed on the notebook, you'll assume it to be correct rather than count the pages of each notebook...specially if a buyer bought 10 reams notebooks = to 100 notebooks).
The Mobile Wholesaler: They sell anything and everything. The first delivery is legit, but the second delivery, specially if you order in bulk/boxes, they hit you hard, for each box, the upper half is legit merchandise and the lower half contains packs of crushed coconut shells.
The Fake Detergent Soap Dealers: These type gives you "product" with real packaging but not the real product inside, you'll only know when a "pissed" customer comes back for a refund.
i could go on with the list .... put it this way, think of every kind of product in the market.... for every product, there's like a dozen fake dealers....
so let us all keep our watch .... be alert ... check and double check identification cards.... with the technology now, we can arm ourselves with cellular phones.... yes...the one with the camera, for as real dealer, taking his picture is no big issue... but the fake ones.... lets just say the can join the Olympics... they could be our representative on the 200m dash...they are quite fast :)
Gotta love those Brats!
thank goodness for kids.
1. they make a mess.
2. they make you tired.
3. they don't eat their veggies.
4. they annoy you to death.
5. they keep you up all night when theyre born.
6. they don't stop asking "why".
7. they never forget to ask for their allowance.
8. they always forget their chores.
9. they keep changing thier minds.
10.they talk too much.
should i go on?
{read again number 1 then read number one at the bottom, same as numbers 2-10}
thank goodness for kids.
1. theyre just being artistic
2. they make you smille with all the insane antics.
3. they make sure i eat my veggies to make me healthy.
4. they make you feel alive with their dreams.
5. they make you feel NEEDED all the time.
6. they make you sooo smart by being able to answer all of their questions.
7. they remind you of your responsibilities.
8. they make you learn how to decipline them with love not with harsh words.
9. they make you feel really stable.
10.they never stop saying i love you mama.
should i go on?
1. they make a mess.
2. they make you tired.
3. they don't eat their veggies.
4. they annoy you to death.
5. they keep you up all night when theyre born.
6. they don't stop asking "why".
7. they never forget to ask for their allowance.
8. they always forget their chores.
9. they keep changing thier minds.
10.they talk too much.
should i go on?
{read again number 1 then read number one at the bottom, same as numbers 2-10}
thank goodness for kids.
1. theyre just being artistic
2. they make you smille with all the insane antics.
3. they make sure i eat my veggies to make me healthy.
4. they make you feel alive with their dreams.
5. they make you feel NEEDED all the time.
6. they make you sooo smart by being able to answer all of their questions.
7. they remind you of your responsibilities.
8. they make you learn how to decipline them with love not with harsh words.
9. they make you feel really stable.
10.they never stop saying i love you mama.
should i go on?
Different types of Customers
There are the regular customers and there are THOSE customers.
What i mean is, after serving customers for awhile you'll
notice something else. The regular customers are those no-
nonsense buyers, these are the ones that just drop by at your store
and buy stuff.... But after awhile, you get THOSE customers who
are a league of their own. They come in all sizes and types.
the High-priced customers: they're the type who are looking for a
much higher priced items. Example for these buyers are the
ones who are still looking for P50 per kilo of rice when it's all over
the news that rice had gone down already, in this case, we try to
explain that the P50 per kilo now is at P42 and the P40/kilo is now
P35... but still they think i'm just trying to sell them b.s. to make a
buck... so they go to other stores and buy the same kind of rice at
the price they think it should be.....
The Two-brand but only one thing we're buying customers... these
type go to your store and go "can i please buy some colgate, close
-up green" or " 1 EQ pampers large please". it makes you wonder if
your going to give them colgate or close-up, or if its EQ or
pampers... when you ask them...they look at you as if your stupid
or something. Try educating them a little bit, you'll feel the blunt
of their tongue or feel really mean for making them feel dumb.
The Mind Changers - these types are really hard to please, they are
the ones who come up the store and and ask for something like
Ovaltine, then after a few minutes would come back and decide he
wants Milo instead, and later in the afternoon would bemoan the
fact that we should have offered him nescafe 3-in-1 earlier coz he's
getting sleeping with the hot milo he drank. Then later in
the evening would tell us that he should have kopiko coz he's
really sleep now...(which at that point would get us thinking, please
don't buy coffee coz you won't get any sleep), and behold by
morning he'll be at the store, asking for ovaltine and the cycle
repeats itself again. Believe me they come in hot drink brand mind
changer, diaper brand mind changer, toothpaste, shampoo (and for
the love of God --there are over 12 different brands of shanpoo,
with over 6 variants for each brand), noodles and SARDINES (don't get me started on sardines)
The Diet Concious - not just the chubby ones, we get more slender
ones who are diet concious customers. These are customers who
insists on buying "JUNK" food that's healthy, canned goods without
preservatives, powdered juice that's fresh, softdrinks without
calories, and chocolate bars that have more cocoa than sugar (coz
they've been told by a teacher its less fattening if its content have
more cocoa).
The Highly Educated customers - these are the great einsteins of
all customers, they have good and bad comments on every single
product, from what the contents are in a certain product, how it is
made, its nutritional value, how it affects the environment, or how
you would smell after using the product of course depending on
your body type. They're the most beloved by others customers,
coz they know everything (product wise). Although to be fair,
sometimes their comments are uncalled for, like ovaltine for
example....our sales plummet after one einstein said, the reason it
taste different from milo is because its made in a cointainer where
cockroaches stay during the evenings when production stops.
I did ask the einstein where he go the info, (maybe i thought he
work for ovaltine or something... he told me a fmily member told
him so...by the way that family member does not work for ovaltine
also..hehehehe).
And lastly, the tambay customer, these are the type of customer wherein all they do is stay at the store, they wake up and stays with the store until closing time, only leaving when nature calls. they keep the other customers in line, they also act as extended salesmen of the store, talking about new products that has come in and enticing other customers to buy more.
Don't get me wrong, i love my customers, they pay for my
overhead, and it makes me smile a lot with the stories the weave
on why they think a product should be bought and others not. But
sometimes, i can really see how a person can be molded by a TV
personality, a family member or even by a teacher when it comes
to buying a product. The sad part of it all, sometimes, misguided
info can hurt rather than help a product.
What i mean is, after serving customers for awhile you'll
notice something else. The regular customers are those no-
nonsense buyers, these are the ones that just drop by at your store
and buy stuff.... But after awhile, you get THOSE customers who
are a league of their own. They come in all sizes and types.
the High-priced customers: they're the type who are looking for a
much higher priced items. Example for these buyers are the
ones who are still looking for P50 per kilo of rice when it's all over
the news that rice had gone down already, in this case, we try to
explain that the P50 per kilo now is at P42 and the P40/kilo is now
P35... but still they think i'm just trying to sell them b.s. to make a
buck... so they go to other stores and buy the same kind of rice at
the price they think it should be.....
The Two-brand but only one thing we're buying customers... these
type go to your store and go "can i please buy some colgate, close
-up green" or " 1 EQ pampers large please". it makes you wonder if
your going to give them colgate or close-up, or if its EQ or
pampers... when you ask them...they look at you as if your stupid
or something. Try educating them a little bit, you'll feel the blunt
of their tongue or feel really mean for making them feel dumb.
The Mind Changers - these types are really hard to please, they are
the ones who come up the store and and ask for something like
Ovaltine, then after a few minutes would come back and decide he
wants Milo instead, and later in the afternoon would bemoan the
fact that we should have offered him nescafe 3-in-1 earlier coz he's
getting sleeping with the hot milo he drank. Then later in
the evening would tell us that he should have kopiko coz he's
really sleep now...(which at that point would get us thinking, please
don't buy coffee coz you won't get any sleep), and behold by
morning he'll be at the store, asking for ovaltine and the cycle
repeats itself again. Believe me they come in hot drink brand mind
changer, diaper brand mind changer, toothpaste, shampoo (and for
the love of God --there are over 12 different brands of shanpoo,
with over 6 variants for each brand), noodles and SARDINES (don't get me started on sardines)
The Diet Concious - not just the chubby ones, we get more slender
ones who are diet concious customers. These are customers who
insists on buying "JUNK" food that's healthy, canned goods without
preservatives, powdered juice that's fresh, softdrinks without
calories, and chocolate bars that have more cocoa than sugar (coz
they've been told by a teacher its less fattening if its content have
more cocoa).
The Highly Educated customers - these are the great einsteins of
all customers, they have good and bad comments on every single
product, from what the contents are in a certain product, how it is
made, its nutritional value, how it affects the environment, or how
you would smell after using the product of course depending on
your body type. They're the most beloved by others customers,
coz they know everything (product wise). Although to be fair,
sometimes their comments are uncalled for, like ovaltine for
example....our sales plummet after one einstein said, the reason it
taste different from milo is because its made in a cointainer where
cockroaches stay during the evenings when production stops.
I did ask the einstein where he go the info, (maybe i thought he
work for ovaltine or something... he told me a fmily member told
him so...by the way that family member does not work for ovaltine
also..hehehehe).
And lastly, the tambay customer, these are the type of customer wherein all they do is stay at the store, they wake up and stays with the store until closing time, only leaving when nature calls. they keep the other customers in line, they also act as extended salesmen of the store, talking about new products that has come in and enticing other customers to buy more.
Don't get me wrong, i love my customers, they pay for my
overhead, and it makes me smile a lot with the stories the weave
on why they think a product should be bought and others not. But
sometimes, i can really see how a person can be molded by a TV
personality, a family member or even by a teacher when it comes
to buying a product. The sad part of it all, sometimes, misguided
info can hurt rather than help a product.
Puregold v.s. Makro
Ever wondered which is better? well i'm a member of both stores, they both cater mostly to us smaller people who have either have a small sari-sari store or a canteen-cum-restaurant, i would prefer to have both, but heck..i got a small space, so it the sari-sari store biz for me. Anyways back to the original topic, Puregold or Makro? They are both wholesalers, selling food and non-food items to us retailers.
Makro has lower prices, bigger carts, store and parking lots, friendlier merchandisers. They also have free stuff if you buy a certain product, which would mean more money for a businesswoman or more savings for a homemaker. Drawbacks are they don't bags your purchases, you'll have to have the initiative to get boxes and put your merchandise in them when you get to your car/jeep, if you want bags, you will have to buy them from the cashier, the good thing about boxing you purchases is you can get as many boxes as you want, as long as there are stocks. you can resell the boxes at junk shops to get more money.
As i've said the parking area is really huge, but the store location is not conducive for small entrepreneurs since the tricycle and jeepney zone is kind of far. so if you don't own a car, tricycle or any type of conveyance, stick to puregold. Be careful when you're using you credit card or your atm for debit because some cashier are not well verse in understanding your instruction when handling cards, for short they don't listen pretty well, you tell them to debit this much from your atm and charge the rest to the credit card, ask them if they got it, and if they say yes, make sure she does what you want, i learned the hard way, i asked to debit only P3,000 and charge my credit card the remaining P12,000+, she confirmed she understood but did the opposite instead. Another time was when i ask to debit my purchase in my LANDBANK atm card, the cashier informed me that they can't since the store only allow certain atm cards, when i told her i already used my card in that store before and anyway there's a picture of the cards that they can actually debit from, it had a Landbank atm card in that picture , (you know the picture of ATM cards that the store allows to debit from, its usually posted on top of their cash register). Well anyways, she told me the picture was just a picture, she can only allow BPI, because Landbank was not expressnet, i tried to explain to her that Landbank was also expressnet but since i couldn't make her understand, i had to ask her to ask her supervisor to decide, the supervisor arrived, she was told that my card can be allowed, so i was able to buy my purchases. Another time was when i bought an appliance and wanted it on installment basis, if you are in a hurry, ask the cashier if she REALLY knows how to process the installment system on your card, because if not, she'll just charge it straight, and when you recieve the copy and see that in't not on instalment basis, you have to go to the process of informing a supervisor, having the purchased cancelled, and you have wait for the supervisor to explain to the cashier how to charge the credit card on installment basis. For short, it will take a lot of time, so my advice, bring cash to Makro.
There are two really great things about Makro, the first one is their customer service, very courteous, very knowlegable in store policies, etc..The second is that, their veggies and fish are really FRESH, talk about fresh from the farm or sea.
For Puregold, you can spot their stores anywhere now, especially the jeepney route, so basically even if some of their stores have limited parking space, it's not a problem, the jeepneys are always there. Prices are a little bit higher compared to Makro, but not all of them. THey have a reward program, for every P300 of participating product or P1000 of any purchase you get a point, accumulated points can be redeemed into gift certificates.
If your just starting out and don't have much capital yet, Puregold is your best bet. You see at Makro you have to buy by bulk, some are packed in 6's, 12's, 20's, etc., some even you have to buy in boxes, but when you do buy them in boxes, you get them at a lower cost. At Puregold, you may buy even just one item per piece, so the chances of buying alot of something your customers won't want is low. Also at Puregold, the range of products is awesome, you have a lot of variety of each product to choose from. Cashiers are faster and know how to use the debit system and the credit card system as well. Merchandisers and Security Guards greet you with a smile and are fast to help you out when you need it (lifting boxes, asking which aisle is a certain product, etc.). Drawbacks, for starters, their baggers are required to count the product, so if they miss the actual count, you'll have to wait for them to either be able to guess the right answer or for them to recount your purchases again, either way, you'll be waiting longer than you expect. Baggers also have a habit of being insolent at times, specially when they are near their break time, one experience i had was when i asked the bager to box my purchases, since there was no boxes at hand, he said he'll just go get some. It took him a long time to return, by the time he returned the cashier had finished ringing up my purchases, i already had paid for them, and another bagger had started to boxed them. We asked what took him so long, he said he couldn't find any boxes and anyway he was near his break, then he proceeded to talk to another bagger instead of helping the other bagger. Another drawback is the customer service, i think they are overworked or something, most of them are grumpy, so when you ask a question they would refer you to the person next to her and when you ask that person she won't know the answer and i'll be told to ask the first person i was talking to, at this point the first one would be on the microphone announcing something...so your best bet, ask the Security Guard, they know most of the questions you need, one female guard once told me about the return policy of their store, she was really helpful.
so you see, they both have good things and bad things about them, i still go to both stores, which store i go to depends on what i am buying or how much time i have, if i need only a couple of things for the store, i go to Puregold, if i am in a hurry, i go to Makro. The drawbacks, you learn to deal with it, anyway, so far i think they are trying to fix their boo-boos, they are making an effort.
Makro has lower prices, bigger carts, store and parking lots, friendlier merchandisers. They also have free stuff if you buy a certain product, which would mean more money for a businesswoman or more savings for a homemaker. Drawbacks are they don't bags your purchases, you'll have to have the initiative to get boxes and put your merchandise in them when you get to your car/jeep, if you want bags, you will have to buy them from the cashier, the good thing about boxing you purchases is you can get as many boxes as you want, as long as there are stocks. you can resell the boxes at junk shops to get more money.
As i've said the parking area is really huge, but the store location is not conducive for small entrepreneurs since the tricycle and jeepney zone is kind of far. so if you don't own a car, tricycle or any type of conveyance, stick to puregold. Be careful when you're using you credit card or your atm for debit because some cashier are not well verse in understanding your instruction when handling cards, for short they don't listen pretty well, you tell them to debit this much from your atm and charge the rest to the credit card, ask them if they got it, and if they say yes, make sure she does what you want, i learned the hard way, i asked to debit only P3,000 and charge my credit card the remaining P12,000+, she confirmed she understood but did the opposite instead. Another time was when i ask to debit my purchase in my LANDBANK atm card, the cashier informed me that they can't since the store only allow certain atm cards, when i told her i already used my card in that store before and anyway there's a picture of the cards that they can actually debit from, it had a Landbank atm card in that picture , (you know the picture of ATM cards that the store allows to debit from, its usually posted on top of their cash register). Well anyways, she told me the picture was just a picture, she can only allow BPI, because Landbank was not expressnet, i tried to explain to her that Landbank was also expressnet but since i couldn't make her understand, i had to ask her to ask her supervisor to decide, the supervisor arrived, she was told that my card can be allowed, so i was able to buy my purchases. Another time was when i bought an appliance and wanted it on installment basis, if you are in a hurry, ask the cashier if she REALLY knows how to process the installment system on your card, because if not, she'll just charge it straight, and when you recieve the copy and see that in't not on instalment basis, you have to go to the process of informing a supervisor, having the purchased cancelled, and you have wait for the supervisor to explain to the cashier how to charge the credit card on installment basis. For short, it will take a lot of time, so my advice, bring cash to Makro.
There are two really great things about Makro, the first one is their customer service, very courteous, very knowlegable in store policies, etc..The second is that, their veggies and fish are really FRESH, talk about fresh from the farm or sea.
For Puregold, you can spot their stores anywhere now, especially the jeepney route, so basically even if some of their stores have limited parking space, it's not a problem, the jeepneys are always there. Prices are a little bit higher compared to Makro, but not all of them. THey have a reward program, for every P300 of participating product or P1000 of any purchase you get a point, accumulated points can be redeemed into gift certificates.
If your just starting out and don't have much capital yet, Puregold is your best bet. You see at Makro you have to buy by bulk, some are packed in 6's, 12's, 20's, etc., some even you have to buy in boxes, but when you do buy them in boxes, you get them at a lower cost. At Puregold, you may buy even just one item per piece, so the chances of buying alot of something your customers won't want is low. Also at Puregold, the range of products is awesome, you have a lot of variety of each product to choose from. Cashiers are faster and know how to use the debit system and the credit card system as well. Merchandisers and Security Guards greet you with a smile and are fast to help you out when you need it (lifting boxes, asking which aisle is a certain product, etc.). Drawbacks, for starters, their baggers are required to count the product, so if they miss the actual count, you'll have to wait for them to either be able to guess the right answer or for them to recount your purchases again, either way, you'll be waiting longer than you expect. Baggers also have a habit of being insolent at times, specially when they are near their break time, one experience i had was when i asked the bager to box my purchases, since there was no boxes at hand, he said he'll just go get some. It took him a long time to return, by the time he returned the cashier had finished ringing up my purchases, i already had paid for them, and another bagger had started to boxed them. We asked what took him so long, he said he couldn't find any boxes and anyway he was near his break, then he proceeded to talk to another bagger instead of helping the other bagger. Another drawback is the customer service, i think they are overworked or something, most of them are grumpy, so when you ask a question they would refer you to the person next to her and when you ask that person she won't know the answer and i'll be told to ask the first person i was talking to, at this point the first one would be on the microphone announcing something...so your best bet, ask the Security Guard, they know most of the questions you need, one female guard once told me about the return policy of their store, she was really helpful.
so you see, they both have good things and bad things about them, i still go to both stores, which store i go to depends on what i am buying or how much time i have, if i need only a couple of things for the store, i go to Puregold, if i am in a hurry, i go to Makro. The drawbacks, you learn to deal with it, anyway, so far i think they are trying to fix their boo-boos, they are making an effort.
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